Filling apparatus for tractor fuel tanks



Oct. 31, 1950 F. T. RANNEY FILLING APPARATUS FoR TRACTOR FUEL TANKS Filed April 9,. 1945 Patented Oct. 31, 1950 FILLING APPARATUS FOR TRACTOR FUEL ANKS Fred T. Ranney, Minneapolis, Application April 9, 1945, Serial No.587,382 s claims. (ci. 22e-rie) This invention relates to lling aparatus for tractor fuel tanks and has particular reference toa tank filling means whereby the liquid fuel such as gasoline in a container, is raised by suction of the tractor engine to the tractor fuel tank positioned thereabove.

In using an apparatus of this general type for filling the fuel tank, much diiculty has been experienced in collapsing the fuel tank, due to lack of proper control of the vacuum created therein.

It is the principal object of the present invention to so construct the-apparatus as to admit a constant air flow thereto'to control the vacuum in the fuel tank while being filled with liquid to preventtoo high a vacuum therein. Y

Another object of the invention is the provision of a vacuum valve structure having an atmospheric inlet port and a vacuum shut-olf valve so related and positioned that no objectionable amount of gasoline can be drawn from the fuel tank into the engine through the vacuum tube. f

Other objects are simplicity and economy of construction, ease and efficiency of operation and adaptability for use with engines producing vacuums of various degrees.

Y' With these objects in View, as well as other objects, which will appear during the course of the specification, reference will now be had to the drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view partly in section of a lling apparatus for engine fuel tanks embodying this invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View of the valve structure.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the upperk portion of th valve structure.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal cross section taken on lineIV--IV of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken on line V-V 0f Fig. 2.

Throughout the several views like reference characters refer to similar parts and the numeral Ill designates a liquid fuel tank positioned above the motor I2 of a typical farm tractor or any other type of automotive vehicle provided with an internal combustion engine as motive power. TankI 8 is provided with an adapter I4 notched at I6 through which is formed an opening kto the tank I0. The body I8 of the apparatus is provided with a' central bore 2 provided at its upperk extremitywith a frusto-conical section 22. Bore 28 extends entirely through the body I8 and is provided at its upper extremity with a cover or closure `24 pivoted at 26 by means of which theA bore is normally closed. An annular flange 28 disposed intermediate the ends of body I8 extends. outwardly to form a ledge 30 against which is seated'a sealing unit comprising gaskets 32 spaced apart by a metal washer 34. That portion of the body I8 directly beneath flange 28 is externally threaded at 36 to receive a nut 38 having lugs 48 extending radially from the periphery thereof and positioned adjacent the lower edge thereof whereby said lugs may be inserted through notches IB formed in adapter I4 and turned to engage said adapter whereby the parts are secured together. When so positioned withA the lugs 40 disposed against the depending lugs 42 of the adapter, the body I8 may be screwed downwardly through nut 38 so vthat the gaskets will set tightly against the upper surface of the adapter I4 to seal the joint between the body and the fuel tank. For the purpose of reenforcing the body I8 above the flange 28, longitudinal ribs 44 are provided to extend outwardly beyond said body. These ribs also y serve to permit wrench gripping means whereby the body may be turned inthe nut 38. Cover 24 is provided with a radially disposed lug 46 constructed to form a notch 48 and an inclined surface 50 whereby the spring wire bail 52 extending through rib 44 at 54, may be swungA through an arc to engage and urge the cover to the closed position as shown in solid lines in Figs. 2 and3.

The fuel container 56 shown in Fig. 1, is provided with a top opening 58y through which the flexible tube 60 is inserted with its lower extremity provided with a screen. cap B2 for straining the fuel passing into tube 60. This tube is of sucient length to extend to and be inserted in the frusto-conical section '22 of the body I8 when the cover is moved to the open position. This tube 60 is so constructed that when inserted into the tapered portion of bore 20, it will t snugly therein to prevent leakage of air therebetween.

The lower extremity of the body or Valve member I8 extends into the tank to a point slightly below the predetermined liquid level of thefilled tank so that liquid fuel introduced into the bore 28 will pass directly therethrough and will ybe delivered to the tank at a point below the top thereof. An internal rib 64 extending from the bottom of the body member I8 extends upwardly to a point adjacent and above the flange 28. The rib 64 is bored out to form a cylindrical recess 66 which extends upwardly adjacent iiange 28 where it is- Offset at 68 and bored concentrically at 'II at a smaller diameter to form a valve seat 10.. The lower extremity of recess 66 is tightly closed by a plug 12. A` cylindrical valve 'I4 relatively smaller in diameter than the recess 66 is mounted in said recess to normally rest on plug 12. This valve is adapted under certain conditions to be raised by the action of fluid passing from the fuel tank upwardly through recess 6E. A passageway 'I6 formed in body member i8 is disposed at substantially right angles to recess 'Il communicates therewith and is provided with a nipple 18, and a coupling 80 by means of which the suction tube 82 is connected with the intake manifold 84 of the motor l2. This tube 82 is provided with the usual control valve 88.

The outer wall 90 of body-member I8V isv provided with an inlet opening 92 lwhich communicates with the fuel tank adjacent its. top. |Ihis opening 92 is so positioned that itcOmmunicates' with the cylindrical recess 56 adjacenttheglongitudinal center of valve 74 when said valve is resting on plug 'l2A A fixed atmospheric inlet pas*- sageway 94 communica-ting with ,bore 20 above tank lfm isv ofi proper size tot admit a sufficient amountof airxintoithe fuel tank at all times to prevent' an excessive vacuum insaid tank. It will` be observed that the-upper end' of valve 14 isa conical. shaped. at 96 so asy to fitl the valve seatfl.

.Whilefinthedrawinga the parts `just described, havebeenshown substantially of a correct relativescale, however, the actual dimensions as used on the device are substantially asV follows:

Thediameter of cylindrical recess BGis 11/325. The diameter ofv valve 141 is 1/4; the opening 92:` is;Y 3./16 in. diameter and the passageway 911l ism/inou'. It should bekeptin-mind that while these'A dimensions are correct for a certain size valvefmechanism and for a certain range. of

vacuums, yet slight modifications might be found- 4 uum in tank I 0 is increased, will function to prevent a too high pressure in said tank that might cause it to collapse.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. In a fuel tank filling device, a tubular body member having a constantly open atmospheric passageway through a wall thereof and releasably connected to communicate with the top of a fuel tank and with a fuel container positioned therebelow whereby fuel forced from said container will pass intogsaid fuel tank, a valve chamber formed in said body member having a valve seat adjacent its upper end and a side inlet port adjacent its lower end communicating with said fuelz tank, a; tube interconnecting said valve chamber with an area of sub-atmospheric pressure, and an elongated non-buoyant valve mounted to normally rest on the bottom of said valve`- chamber' below` said valve seat with its cent-rall portion adjacent sa-id inletY port' and' spacedY apart therefrom toform a restricted flowl channel around saidvalve, said channel extending substantially above said inlet port, whereby when the fuel in saidfuel tankv enters said-inlet port, said valve will be forced upwardly by the upward flow ofl fuel through said valve chamber to close the connectionl from said fuel tankto said area of low pressure.

2. In a fuel tank filling device, a tubular body member'having a constantly open passageway to theatmosphere formedthrough the wallthereof and releasably connectedl to communicate with' the top of a fuel tank and with a' fuel containerA positioned therebelow whereby fuel forced from saidcontainer willv pass into said-fuel'tank, al valve chamber formed in saidv body member having a valve seat adjacent its upper end andl aside operator connects the. supply tube- El!l with thevalve body, as.` shown.A ink they dotted lines in Eig. 2:,.1then opensthe vacuum line valve and startstthe. enginel2, thus` drawing ain through` openingabout valve 14, thence upwardly throughrecesses 6.6 andll, passageway` 16, then into tube.82; When suicient vacuum has been producedsin the fuel tank IU; the fuel# will= pass` through: strainer 62; thenceupwardly'to tube 60:

and` into thew body. member HiI where. it will be discharged through ybore 20v into1the fueLtank IU.- As the fuel is: being discharged.r into the tank, atmospheric air will: enter bore 2) through passageway 942 due to the differential ofatmospheric pressure, and? the pressure Vin tank Iii.` As the liquid leveliin tank l-raisesto-a point adjacent the bottoml endof opening` 921, valveM will be forced.. upwardly to engage seat 19 so as to close theconnection vto the low pressure compartment ofi the engine, thereby breakingA thevacuumin the fuel tank which will be immediately equalized through'passagewayy Slt. The tube 60 can now be removedand cover 24^closed; the control valve 88- is then closed so that valve '14 again drops by gravity-to positiony on plug 12.

' Duringthe-llingfoperation, the amount of air passingY through inlet 94; is dependent in some degree-tothe differential of pressure insideand' Vvalve chamber below said valve seat with its inlet portadjacent its lower end communicating with said fuel" tank, a tube interconnecting said valvechamber abovesaid seat withY an` areaY of sub-atmospheric pressure, an elongated nonbuoyant" valve mounted to normally rest onl the bottom of'L said valve chamber below said Valve seat with its central portion' adjacent saidL inletV port andi spaced apart therefromk to form'4 arestricted flow channel around said; valve, said`- channel extending substantially f above' saidside' inlet port, whereby when the fuel in said fuel tank* ent-ers said inlet port, said' valve will' be movedto4 close the connection from said fuel tank to said area of low pressure,- andmanually operable mea-ns wherebyl the connection from said fuel tank to said area of"sub-atmospheric'4 pressure is controlled.

3. Ina fuel tank filling device, a'tubular'body' memberfhavinga constantly open atmospheric passageway through a wall thereof* and' releasably connected tocornmunicate with the topof'a fuel tank and withv a fuel container positioned-y therebelow whereby fuel forced'from' saidcontainer willpass into'saidfuel tank; a cylindrical valve chamberl having a closed bottom portion.

formed in said body member'having a valve seat adjacentv its upperendA and a sideinlet portadjacent its lower end communicating with saidfuel' tank above said bottom portion, a tube interconnectingsaid valve chamber' with an area of sub-atmospheric pressure, and an elongated 'cylindricallnonebuoyant valve of slightly less diameter' thanthe diameter` of said valve chamber mounted" to normally rest'on the bottom of said' central portion adjacent said inlet port and spaced therefrom to form a restricted flow `channel about said valve extending substantially above said inlet port, whereby when the fuel in said fuel tank enters said inlet port, said valve will be moved thereby to close the connection from said fuel tank to said area of low pressure, and manually operable means whereby the connection from said fuel tank to said area of subatmospheric pressure is controlled. l

4. In a fuel tank lling device, a tubular body member having a constantly open, restricted atmospheric passageway through a wall thereof and provided at its upper end with a frustoconical section adapted to hermetically receive one end of a pliable tube adapted to interconnect with the top of a fuel tank and with a fuel container positioned therebelow whereby fuel forced from said container will pass into said fuel tank, a valve chamber formed in said body member having a valve seat adjacent its upper endv and a side inlet port adjacent its lower end communicating with said fuel tank, a tube interconnecting said valve chamber with an area of subatmospheric pressure, and an elongated nonbuoyant valve mounted to normally rest on the bottom of said valve chamber below said valve seat with its central portion adjacent said inlet port and spaced apart therefrom to form a restricted ilo-w channel about said Valve extending substantially above said, port, whereby said valve will remain at the bottom of said valve chamber during the iilling operation until the liquid insaid fuel tank enters said inlet port, when it will be moved by the passage of said liquid fuel to engage said valve seat.

5. In a fuel tank filling device, a tubular body member having a constantly open atmospheric lpassageway through a wall thereof and releasably connected to communicate with the top of a fuel tank and with a fuel container positioned therebelow whereby fuel forced from said container will pass into said fuel tank, a valve chamber formed in said body member having a valve seat adjacent its upper end and a side inlet port adjacent its lower end relatively larger than said atmospheric passageway communicating with said fuel tank, a tube interconnecting said valve chamber with an area of sub-atmospheric pressure, and an elongated non-buoyant valve mounted to normally rest on the bottom of said Valve chamber below said valve seat with its central portion adjacent said inlet port and spaced apart therefrom to form a restricted flo-w channel about said valve extending substantially above said inlet port, whereby when `the fuel in said fuel tank enters said inlet port said valve will be moved to close the connection from said fuel tank to said area of low pressure and the vacuum in said fuel tank will be quickly relieved through said atmospheric passageway.

v FRED T. RANNEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,443,977 Carr Feb. 6, 1923 1,913,078 Hays June 6, 1933 2,225,844 Pye Dec. 24, 1940 2,317,589 Collinson Apr. 27, 1943 2,356,428 A Ranney Aug. 22, 1944 

